Lions make eight changes for third test

British and Irish Lions rugby manager Ian McGeechan has made eight changes to his side for the final test in the Castle Lager series against the South Africa Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Injured Welshmen Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones will be replaced by England’s Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery, while Irishman Tommy Bowe moves from the wing to take over fellow countryman and Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll’s center spot, after BOD suffered a concussion in the second test.

England’s Riki Flutey will be replacing Welshman Jamie Roberts in the midfield. Roberts sprained his wrist in the second half of last weekend’s second test at Loftus Versfeld.

Ugo Monye returns to action on the right and Shane Williams will replace Leinster’s Luke “Pivot” Fitzgerald on the left, totaling four changes behind the scrum from last weekend.

Up front, Phil Vickery will return for his fifth Lions test and Andrew Sheridan will make his first start in the front row. The second row remains the same, but the back row has been altered following the 28-25 heartbreaking loss to Springboks in Pretoria last weekend.

Irishman and Leinster No. 8 Jamie Heaslip will be the only consistent starter throughout the three tests, while Martyn Williams gets his first test start on his third Lions tour. Munster flanker David Wallace will move to the bench for Williams, while Joe Worsley will replace fellow Englishman Tom Croft on the blind side of the scrum.

Croft will be on the bench, where the Lions have five forwards and just two backs. The lone Scott, Ross Ford, along with Alun Wyn Jones and Harry Ellis, are to be kept on the bench from last weekend, while Irish tight-head prop John Hayes, who flew out as a replacement for the injured Euan Murray, gives cover to the front row. James Hook will be included in the squad for the first time.